LaserWriter Select 360 & MacOS 10.13.3

[Ishtaba]

An answer for me, and I hope someone else:


February 14, 2018
Transitioning from a Mac 7500 (1995) & OS 9.1 to an iMac (2018) & OS 10.13.3 with a LaserWriter Select 360 printer.
From articles on the internet: I could not get a print server to work for me, but a USB to Parallel printer cable did work.


1. I took the LaserWriter Select 360 Postscript Printer Description file from the Printer Descriptions folder, in the Extensions folder of the System Folder of Mac OS 9.1 (as my son suggested) and dropped it into the Resources folder<Contents folder< PPDs folder<Printers folder<Library folder of the iMac (hard drive) system drive. (Someone on an Apple forum said this PPD file goes all the way back to System 7, and this is the file you need.)
2. Plugged in a 10 foot USB to Parallel printer cable by StarTech, and set the rotary dial on the back of the 360 printer to “1” in order to set all connectors to Post Script.
3. When I selected + to add a printer in the Printers and Scanners window, the iMac chose “Default,” and saw the LaserWriter Select 360 as “Prolific Technology Inc. IEEE-1284 Controller” under Name, and “USB” under Kind. Next, I selected that listing, “Prolific Technology Inc. IEEE-1284 Controller” and then moved to the Name rectangle and gave my printer the name “360”.
4. In the “Use” rectangle, I chose Select Software…, highlighted “Apple LaserWriter Select 360 v2013.112 in the Printer Software window that appeared, and clicked OK. Then I selected “Add.” The printer was added.
5. I chose “Options & Supplies,” chose “Options,” and then set Memory Configuration and Cassette to match my printer. Or if I chose “Configure” before the printer was added in step 4, I could set the memory and tray options there.
6. Otherwise, Tray options can be set when printing; under “Paper Feed” by choosing “Notes.”
7. Both the Mac 7500 and iMac are connected to the LaserWriter Select 360.

 

[AnonMac50]

Very informative! I did not know that was possible, and now I’m suddenly excited to go and find my old computer accessories

 

[Ishtaba]

Very informative! I did not know that was possible, and now I’m suddenly excited to go and find my old computer accessories

[doublepost=1528295694][/doublepost]Thanks. If you want access to the printer with "Apple Printer Utility-PPC", I believe I read somewhere that you must use an older computer. I know nothing about MacOS X prior to High Sierra. The picture is from the 360 manual. There are old discussions at "Tid-Bits" and the Apple Community I found using Google. Perhaps the print server I bought would have worked if I had listened to my son and dropped the Postscript Printer Description file from MacOS 9 into the iMac sooner. I did download a PPD file off the internet, but it did not work.

 

[spacedesign911]

[doublepost=1528295694][/doublepost]Thanks. If you want access to the printer with "Apple Printer Utility-PPC", I believe I read somewhere that you must use an older computer. I know nothing about MacOS X prior to High Sierra. The picture is from the 360 manual. There are old discussions at "Tid-Bits" and the Apple Community I found using Google. Perhaps the print server I bought would have worked if I had listened to my son and dropped the Postscript Printer Description file from MacOS 9 into the iMac sooner. I did download a PPD file off the internet, but it did not work.

Fantastic read, well done to you sir, you have some great tools to work with. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it where not for that Laser Writer and Mac.... mind me asking if you can still get toner?

 

[Ishtaba]

Yes you can get toner cartridges. Search the internet. Caution......I bought remanufactured ones but will likely switch to all new ones unless all the internal cartridge parts of the remanufactured cartridge have been replaced. Also, there is apparently a shelf life on these cartridges. I have a brand new Apple branded cartridge that is putting spots on the page at regular intervals. I found this: EDIT: 95mm would be the Toner Cart, 72mm would be the fuser assembly.

Another choice: Zerox 113R5 is supposed to fit the LaserWriter Select. Jeff will answer here:https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5260863

I forgot where, but someone on the net will send you a download of the manual to clean and maybe repair your printer. There is also a cleaning video on Youtube. I am not really good with computers, I just got lucky finding enough information on the internet to keep an old "work horse" going. Glad to help.